Lock for light bulbs



July 25, 1933. G. GOCKSTETTER 1,920,011

` LOCK FOR LIGHT BULBS Filed Nov. 5, 1932 INVENTOR N 5R m 25 @Wig ary/M/Z ATTORNEYS Patented `luly 25, 1933 LOCK FOR LGHT BULBS Application ledNovember 5, 1932. Serial No. 641,486.

rlhe invention relates to means for lock trated in the accompanyingdrawing, in

ing an incandescent light bulb in a socket so as to prevent removal or"the bulb by an unauthorized person.

Considerable expense and annoyance' is caused by the theft ofincandescent` light bulbs from the sockets in large factories,`amuscment resorts, public buildings and other places where a largenumberof elec- 10 tric lights are used, making it necessary for those incharge to continually replace the stolen bulbs; and the object oiI thepresent improvement is to provide means for effectively locking a lightbulb when it is 5 screwed into a socket Vso as to prevent its removal byVan unauthorized person.

A further object is to provide such a'lock with means whereby anauthorized person with the proper tools may removev the bulb 2G from thesocket in order that bulbs which have burned out may be replaced.

A still further object'ot the improvement is to provide a very simpleand inexpensive locking device which may be quickly and 5 readilyapplied to sockets ofusual and ordinary construction.

The above and other objects may be attained by providing a locking ringwhich may be formed of two connected layers ot paper or other suitablematerial having a line wire, thread or other rsuitable flexible coil orrip cord located between the layers and adapted to be pulled out toseparate said layers when itis desired to remove the bulb.

The outer surface of the locking ring is adapted to be cemented withinthe month ot the lamp socket and suitable adhesive material is placedupon the inner surface oil i the ring which contacts with the base ofthe light bulb so that when the bulb is screwed into the socket, thecement or other adhesive will hold the bulb against removal therewhich fFigure l is an enlarged sectional view through a lamp socket of usualconstruction showing the base of a light Vbulb located therein, theimproved locking ring to which theinvention pertains being shown appliedthereto;

Fig. 2, an elevation of a lamp bulb located in a socket shown insection, the locking ring to which the invention pertains being shown inelevation;

Fig. 3, an elevation of a partly completed locking ring showing theinner layer opaper with the flexible coil thereon;

Fig. 4f, a similar viewv showing the outer layer of paper applied overthe coil and inner layer, a part being broken in sectionV for thepurpose of illustration;

Fig. 5, a similar View of the completed locking ring;

Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5 of a slightly modified form of lockingring;

' Fig. 7, a detached perspective view of the improved locking ring; and

Fig. 8, an enlarged sectional view through a slightly modified form oflamp socket with a modiied form of locking ring located therein.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

The improved locking ring may be formed of material suitable forwithstanding the temperature to which an electric light base and socketare subjected, asbestos paper being an example of material well adaptedfor this purpose.

In forming the ring, a layer of the paper, indicated at l0, is locatedaround a suitable mandrel or the like and a strand of fine wire, threador other suitable flexible material is coiled around the layer of paper,as indicated generally at l1, a suitable adhesive material such ascement, glue or the like is then applied to the outer surface of thepaper 10 and an outer layer of paper l2 is placed over the saine, thecompleted ring thus comprising two layers of paper cemented togetherwith the coil of wire or thread located between the layers.

loo

The ring thusk produced may then be by suitable adhesive material toboth the shaped 'a any suitable forming device to the finished form, asbest shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 to contorni to the screw threads withinthe usual lamp socket.` lr" desired,

v an annular shoulder or ange 13 may be formed at the lower edge of theringto limit the insertion oi the locking ring into the lamp socket. lfdesired, the upper edge of the ring may be tapered, as indicatedgat 14ein Figs. 1 and 5, in order to facilitate the 'insertion of the lamp baseinto the socket.

The improved locking ring is adapted for use in connection with anyusual-and well known type of lamp socket having the screw threaded sheetmetal shell 15 shown in Figs.

1 and 2. ln order to more easily accom' modate the Vlocking ring, theouter end portion of this sheet metal shell may be slightly expandethas'indicated at 16 in Fig". 1 and 2. rlhis may be accomplished by the useof a simple expanding tool without removing the sheet metal shell fromthe socket.

Both the outer and inner side walls oli the improved locking ring may becoated withia suitable adhesive adapted to be moist'ened for use in themanner of an envelope flap or a postage stamp. ln' applying the lockingring to thelamp socket in order to lock the light bulb therein, theouter surface Vof the locking ring may be moistened to soften theadhesive coating thereon and the ring is lscrewed into the open end ofthe threaded sheet metal shell 15 of the lamp socket, the flangedshoulder 13 upon the ringcontacting with the end of said shell andlimiting the movement of the ring therein. i

Instead of using the adhesive coating upon the outer 'surfaceoi the ringand moistening the same before the ring is screwed Vinto the shell ofthe socket, it should be understood that suitable adhesive may beapplied to the exterior of the ring just prior to the insertion of thering into the socket.

The lower or outer portionot the screw threaded base 17 ot theincandescent bulb 18 may then be' moistened and the base of the bulb isthenscrewed into the socket vin the usual manner, the lnoistened portionthereof being positioned within the VlockingV ring and sufficientlymoistening the adhesive coating uponthe innerfsurface of the ring yto 1cause the inner surface oi the ring to adhere to the lamp base in thesainemanner that theouter surface ofthe ring adheres to the socket. i'

lnstead ot using this particular kind ot adhesive coating upon the innersurface of' the ring, it should be understood that any suitable cement,glue or other adhesive may be applied to the portion of the lamp Vbasewhich comes to rest within the ring, the ob* ject merely being to attachlocking ring the socket and the lamp base.

In order to facilitate the removal of the lamp bulb from the socket byunauthorized person, the lower or outer end of the coil 11 ot wire,thread or the like may be eX- tended through the lower edge of thelocking ring, as indicated at 19, and an eye or loop 20 may Vbe formedtherein to be engaged a suitable hooked instrument by means of which theend of the coil of wire or thread may be more readily pulled downwardand outward.

By continuing to pull this wire or thread outward, it will be seen thatthe bond between the two sheets of paper 10rand 12 which form the ringwill be broken and the .two sheets of paper separated, permitting basewithin which the upper end of the lampl bulb 18 is located.

i In order to remove the lamp bulb it is iirst necessary to cut awaythis washer be- -ore the proper tool is inserted into the socket toloosen the end of the coil of wire or thread and pull the same out. Forcomplete safety thehandle of this tool, V,aswell as any toolV used forscraping the paper from kthe interior of the socket after the bulb hasbeen removed, should be insulated in order to prevent any possibility ofthe operator receiving an electric shock; y v

A modication of theinvention is shown in Fig. 8 in which a special lampsocket is required. This lamp socket may be the same kas the ordinarysocket excepting that the screw Vthreaded sheet metal shell 15m isprovided at` its outer open end with an enlarged shouldered'portion 23which may be screw threaded, as indicated at 24, the threads be- -ing ofmuch liner pitch than the threads upon the portion 15a. and left-handthreads.

The locking ring provid-ed for this form oftheinvention may comprise athreaded sheet metal ring 25 adapted to be screwed into the threads 24and having therein the spaced paperrlayers 10a and 12a' between which islocated the coil 1161A` of wire, thread or the like, as above described.The outer layer 12u01? paper is glued'or cemented to the sheet metalring 25.

ln using this type of locking ring to lock the lamp bulb in the socket,the sheet metal preferably being CTI ring 25, 4with the paper and wire0r thread coil carried thereby is first screwed into the socket in theposition shown in F 1g. 8, after winch the lamp bulb is insertedV intothe socket as above described in the other form ci'v invention, the baseof the lamp bulb y being cemented or glued to the inner surface of thepaper layer 10e in the manner above described.

t wili be seen that any attempt to unscrew the lamp bulb will cause thelocking ring to be rotated, tightening the same wit-hin the threads 24so that it acts as a jam nut. In order to remove the lamp bulb, the wireor thread coil is pulled out in the manner above described, breaking thebond between the two layers of paper'lOa: and 12a, whereby the lamp bulbmay be uiiscrewed from the socket, after which the sheet meta-l ring 25,with the outerlayer 12a adhering thereto may be unscrewed from thesocket.

In order to assist in removing` this screw threaded ring one or morelugs 26 maybe termed upon the lower edge thereof for engagement bypliers or other suitable tool. A washer such as shown at 2l in Figs. 1and 2 may be used in this form of the invention in the manner abovedescribed.

I claim:

l. In combination with a lamp socket and a lamp bulb having a baseiitting within said socket, locking ring located within the socket andaround the base and comprising two layers of paper and thelike con- 'Aiiected together by an adhesive and a coil 4' of wire and the likelocated between said layers, said locking ring being connected to thesocket and the base.

2. In combination with a lamp socket and a lamp bulb having a basetit-ting within said socket, a locking ring located within the socketand around the base and comprising two layers ot paper and the likeconnected together by an adhesive and a coil of wire and the likelocated between said layers,

said locking ring being connected to the socket and the base, one end ofsaid coil protruding through the outer edge of said lockiiiO ring. f

3. In combination with a lainp socket and a lamp bulb having a baseitting within said socket, a locking ring located within the socket andaround the base and comprising two layers of paper and the likeconiiected together by an adhesive and a coil of wire and the likelocated between said layers, said locking ring being connected to thesocket and the base, one end of said coil protruding through the outeredge of said locking ring and having aloorp formed therein.

4. In combination with a lamp socket and a lamp bulb having a basefitting within said socket, a locking ring located within the socket andaround the base and comprising two layers of paper andthe like`connected' and a lam o bulbhavinc' a base iittin within said socket, alocking ring located within the socket and around the base andcomprising two layers of paper and the like connected together by anadhesive and a coil ot' wireand the like located between said lay-V ers,said locking ring being connected to the socket and the base, the inneredge oi' said ring being tapered.

6. In combination with a lamp socket and a lamp bulb having a baseitting within said socket, a locking ring located within the socket andaround the base and comprising two layers of paper and the likeconnected together by an adhesive and a. coil of wire and the likelocated between said layers, said locking ring being connected to thesocket and the base, the inner edge of said ring being tapered and theouter edge of the ring having an annular shoulder adapted to Contactwith the outer edge of the socket.

7. As an article of manufacture, a locking ring for locking the base oia light bulb in a lamp socket, said ring including two layers of paperand the like connected to gether by an adhesive and a coil of wire andthe like located between said layers, the ring being adapted to surroundthe lamp base within thel socket and to be conected to the base andsocket.

8. As an article of manufacture, a locking ring for locking the base ofa light bulb in a lamp socket, said ring including two layers oi paperand the like connected together byA an adhesive, a coil of wire and thelike located between said layers, and a ring of sheet met-aland the likeconnected to the outer` layer of said paper and adapted to be connectedto the interior or the socket, the inner layer of paper being adapted tobe connected to the lamp base.

9. As an article of manufacture, a locking ring for locking the base ofa light bulb in a lamp socket, said ring including twolayers of paperand the-like connected together by an adhesive, a coil of wire and thelike loizo ing a base threaded to fit said shell, va locking ringincluding two layers of paper and the like connected together by anadhesive, a coil of wire and the like located between said layers, andascrew threaded ring of metal and the like connected to the outer layerof paper and adapted to be threaded into the enlarged end of said Shell,the inner layer of paper being adapted to be connected to the lamp base.

11. In combination with a lampv socket` having` a screw threaded shellprovided with an enlarged open end having oppositely disposed screwthreads, and a lamp bulb havl ing a base threaded to fit said shell, alocking ring including` two layers of paper and the like connectedtogether by an adhesive, a coil of wire and the like located betweensaid layers, and a screw threaded ring of metal and the like connectedto the outer layer of paper and adapted to be threaded into the enlargedend of said shell, the inner layer of paper being adapted to beconnected to the lamp base.'y

Y so

fthe like located between said layers, and a screw threaded ring ofinetal and the like connected to the outer layer of paper and adapted tobe threaded into the enlarged end of said shell, the inner layer ofvpaper being Vadapted to be connected to the lamp base.

13. As an article of manufacture, a locking ring for locking the base ofalight bulb in a lamp socket, said ring including two layers of paper.and the like connected together and havingy a ilexible rip cord locatedbetween said layers, the ring being Aadapted to surround the lamp basewithin the socket and to beconnected to the base and socket.

GEORGE GOCKSTETTER.

